Not-to-Do List when relocating
1. Missing Plan A.
Without a comprehensive plan, the relocation is doomed or painful. Put as much detail into is as you can.2. Forgot plan B.
No matter how thick the layers of detail are, you're bound to have glitches that call for a contingency plan. For example: What if you can't get out of your present office on time, you may be charged on a daily of weekly rate. This can be costly and probably is not budgeted for your relocation plan.3. Poor Timing
Plan your move around downtimes or vacation shutdowns. Be sensitive to individual department functions. For transportation companies and other vendors, certain seasons are busier than others; may corporate relocations take place in the summer. Also, avoid headaches early on by selecting a real estate broker at least a year in advance of your move.4. Who the charge?
Not having a full-time move coordinator is one of the biggest mistakes made by relocating companies. Consider hiring an outside consultant-or assign a qualified in-house person. Qualifications include excellent communication skills, the authority to make decision, and attention to detail. The in-house person should be relieved of his or her present duties, since the logistic of the move may require it.5. Overburden staff
The move coordinator will need assistance from other department. Consider assembling an inter-departmental team. Hold regular meeting with coordinators from each department to go over the move strategy. Let them know that through planning, cooperation, and acceptance of responsibility are key to a successful relocation.6. Lack of Research on Movers.
Learn about the performance and experience of the companies involved in moving your firm and setting it up, including the number and complexity of recent moves they have performed-critical information, particularly if you're shipping sensitive equipment.7. You got what you paid for.
The traditional approach to selecting a van line, for example, is based on a bid process: Go out for three bids, then choose the lowest bidder. The low-bid option is not necessarily the best way to go however. You might get a great price, but lousy service and delivery. Check references.8. Spaced Out
Recognizing-and planning for-new space requirements and floor plans can be a make-or-break factor in getting your new location up and running. Provide the van line with detailed floor plans of the old site and the new site to get everything in the right place, quickly.9. Choosing the inexperienced players.
Relocation is expensive, costing up to $80,000 per relocating
family. Relocate those employees who can use their talent skills, experience, and training to enhance, company performance. A way to help ensure the right match is to maintain a database about employees, their job histories, performance, skills, education, and training.10. Lack of training your own employees.
Prior to the move, if you don't train employees on any new systems or practices to be installed at the new office, there will be a learning curve that could result in excessive downtime, poor productivity, and customer disruptions.11. Surprise, all systems are not "go".
Not testing computers, machinery, electrical outlets, lighting, air conditioning, security and other such necessities to see if they work is a fatal but common oversight. Imagine showing up at the new location on Monday morning ready to process customer orders, and the computers are down.12. Missed Companys' growth plans.
You may have to downsize to a smaller space, but have you left yourself room to expand? If not, you may be faced with another relocation in the future. Meet with your space planner and key employees a year before the move to determine the present and future needs.13. Unlawful accesses.
Make sure your new space complies with the American With Disabilities Act to accommodate the needs of physically challenged employees.14. A site-less selection.
If you fail to thoroughly investigate potential sites, you could miss out on economic and competitive advantages. Look into such factors as favorable tax rates, tax incentives for business moving into an area, adequacy of municipal services, transportation routes, access to customers and suppliers, and quality of life for employees.15. No back-up of critical operations.
Records of operations are the information backbone of a company. Without them, you could have major problems conducting business. During the relocation, make sure you provide for daily system back up at an off-site facility.16. Clean up & out, don't use/don't move it.
Sometimes, you don't need to move everything. Considering storing inactive files or purge those you no longer need.17. Details missed, Address known.
It is easy to overlook the small stuff like printing new forms, changing your company's address at the post office, or notifying customers and vendors of your new address and phone numbers.18. Insecurities, don't be a victim while too busy.
As your site becomes ready, the last thing you need is a break-in or vandalism. Make provisions for security, including
fencing, safes, alarms and other protective measures.
